Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,236, William Gifford, Conn. R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn. R.F.
Gifford William
52236
carded
CONTENTS
[Lined area for handwritten entries]
[Lined area for handwritten entries]

Letter to N. Chapman 2 Oct 1838 and to Pen age 7 Nov 1838. To Ohio from 4 March 1838. 1. Decr 1839. Notification sent to N. Chapman - Milford Cen- tre Ohio
Letter to J. H. Young 8 th Andas 28 Aug 1841.
Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 th April 1838 from 4 th Sep 1838 to 17 Jan y 1839. Age notified 23 Sep 1841.
Ohio 10.82 3/4  Massachusetts
William Gifford Westport in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain _____ of the Reg t commanded by Col. Craig in the Mass line for 2 years.
J. F. Cronin Secy. Records corrected Dec. 12 1843
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 80 Dollars ~ Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 th day of Oct r 1833 and sent Abner Gifford Westport Mass. Arrears to the 14th of Mar 1833 $160 Semi-ann. allowance ending 14 Sep r " 40 $200
{ Revolutionary Class 2 { Act June 7, 1833 3
Recorded by J. H. McBlain Clerk Book No. Vol. 2, Page 28.

10275-
William Gifford
March 27/18
$80
Almer B Gifford Northport - Mass

(10.275) BRIEF in the case of William Gifford of Westport — in the State of — Mass s (Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court 2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 3. How old is he? 77 years 4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
    Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Winter March In 1776 # not stated As a Private Col l Chris o - Life's Fld's Capt n J c Carr's Co s R. Doherty State N. Seneca   Winter April - 1777 do Capt n Chas o MacKenzie's C y Col l Craig's - Reg t do   Spring 1779 0 do not stated a Substitute   Fall of do. 3 do do do   
5. In what battles was he engaged? at White Plains at the time of the Battle for the Year 6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? not stated
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 1 st & 2 nd terms by one witness & the traditional evidence of others — one a Clergyman — all certified to be credible persons — 8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The signature of the Magistrate not verified by the Clerk
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
E. Stephens Examining Clerk.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
September 2 d , 1841.
Sir :
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," the adm or of William Gifford, dec d , a Pensioner on the Roll of the Ohio Agency, at the rate of Eighty - Dollars and Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1838, to the 17 th January 1839.
Respectfully yours,
Wilson B. Tazewell
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.
County of Champaign ss.
On this twenty third day of October
1838
before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Champaign personally appeared William Gifford
who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Car  Christopher Lippet in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Christopher Lippet in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Massachusetts from whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in the State (District, or Territory,) of Ohio where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable, in future. The following are his reasons for removing from Massachusetts
to Ohio was his children had most all moved there and he being old and feeble not able to labour wished to live with one of his sons by the name of William Gifford whom besides in Champaign Co Sworn and subscribed to, before me, } William Gifford  Ohio the day and year aforesaid. }
Wark
Isaac Johnson J.P.
¶ The oath to be taken before a duly qualified Magistrate, whose official character and signature must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The county Clerk, Secretary of State, or some other officer, must certify, under his seal of office, that the officer who administered the oath is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, Mayor, Alderman, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
¶ The oath must be supported by the testimony of some respectable person, as to the Pensioner's identity. He must swear that the person who has taken the above oath is the person described in the affidavit. The Magistrate must certify, that the witness is a person of veracity; and the affidavit must also be authenticated in the manner above directed.
SS The subscriber William Gifford is a very old man all most blind doesn't recollect the whole of the capt name Sturtevant it was car or that was his ser name

State of Ohio Champaign County ss.
Personally appeared before me the subscriber Ira C Johnson a justice of the peace in and for said County. William Gifford Jr and says that William Gifford his father whom has taken the within oath and signed the within affidavit is the person he represents himself to be and that he drew a pension in the State of Massachusetts to his certain knowledge this 23 day of Oct 1838.
William Gifford
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 23 rd day of October One thousand eight hundred and thirty eight
Ira C Johnson P.
I hereby certify that the above named William Gifford Jr is a man of truth and veracity on that he bears that affidavit given under my hand this 23 rd day of October 1838
Ira C Johnson P.
The State of Ohio Champaign County ss. I John C Pearson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the County aforesaid certify that Ira C Johnson was on the 23 rd day of Oct. last, one of the legally qualified Justices of the Peace within and for said County, as appears of record - and that his above signature is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court at Urbana this 24 th day of Oct. 1838 John C Pearson Clk

William Gifford
A.B.C.
10. 275

State of Massachusetts
County of Bristol } S.S.
On this 30 th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in Open Court, before Hezekiah Baylies, Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Bristol, now sitting, at Dighton in said County of Bristol. William Gifford of Westport in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, aged Seventy Seven years in November last, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.
I hereby certify that I entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and served as herein stated,
12 mo. Firstly That early in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy six I enlisted in the service of the United States at Newton for One year, I think it was in the month of March, cannot for a certainty tell the day. That I enlisted into a company of soldiers or troops (they were then called Rhode Island State Troops) under the Command of Capt. Jacob Courtenay, the Lieutenant's name was Nathaniel, the Ensign's name was, E. Bliss, and in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Christopher Gifford, the first place that I remember of being stationed after enlistment, was at Currant's Cove or Coaxen Harbour, and after staying a while at Coaxen Harbour, we was marched to the Island of Narragansett, and after remaining a while at that place, we marched to a place called Kings Bridge in the State of New York, and after remaining a time at Kings Bridge, we was marched to the White Plains, and was at the White Plains at the time of the battle fought there between the Americans and British, after the battle as aforesaid we was marched to a place called Pitts Hill, and there crossed the river, and marched to Princeton and after remaining there awhile we was marched back to Pitts Hill and there discharged I have no recollection of receiving a written discharge, if I did have one it soon got lost — on being discharged as aforesaid I returned home to Tiverton in the State of Rhode Island, being the Town in which I was born and the Town in which I lived until after the Peace of Seventeen Hundred and Eighty Three — some time

Since the year I Moved into Westport in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, and have lived in Westport ever since. I have no record of my age, but one of my Sisters keeps a family record, on which my name & birth is recorded, & in frequent conversations with her upon the subject enables me to say and recollect my age. The account therein set down says I was born in November 1754.
15/110. And the said William Farther declares, that soon after his return from the West, at White Plains, & Pitts Kill, he again enlisted into the Army of the United States, (he cannot recollect the day or month but it was early in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy Seven thinks it was in April) he enlisted at Howlands Ferry in the County of Leinster aforesaid into the Company of Captain Christopher Manchester, into what was called the fifteen months service, thinks he enlisted for fifteen months, in Colonel Crary's Regiment, after my enlistment as aforesaid we were quartered at Howlands Ferry, from thence we marched to Bristol in the State of Rhode Island, and remained at Bristol for some time, Capt. Manchester's Company in which I belonged was ordered to Poper'squash, we went to Poper'squash, and after remaining there for some time, the small pox broke out among some of the troops and those who were taken sick with the small pox was put into an old house on the Island for a Hospital, and after the troops had recovered from the small pox some of our Company was ordered to go & clean the house, and I remember they gave it a thorough cleansing for they set fire to it and burnt it down, — some time after this I was taken sick, and the sickness increased to such a degree that I was void of common reason, and as I was afterwards informed was carried home, and before I recovered of my sickness as aforesaid the term for which I had enlisted expired and therefore I had no discharge from Capt. Manchester — according to the best evidence I have I was not able to be in the service again until the Spring of Seventeen hundred and Seventy nine, when I left home and went to Killingsley in Connecticut I think this was in March 1779 — there I fell in

Company with a man, who was drafted to go into the service, (I cannot now recollect the name of the man) but he hired me to take his place, I did take his place and went to New London as a substitute, was received and served six months, was stationed down below the Town of New London during the six months aforesaid on a Farm belonging to John D. Shaw. After this term of six months had expired and before I engaged in any other business and in the fall of the year Seventeen hundred and eighty Nine a man came to me (his name I cannot now recollect) and hired me to take his place in the service for three months I agreed with him, took his place as a substitute and went to Old Stafford in Connecticut was received as a substitute and served my three months during which time I was stationed at a house belonging to a man by the name of Curtis - after this last mentioned term of three months had expired I left the Service of the United States went to Simsbury in Connecticut and in the month of April 1780 - was married - I cannot now recollect the names of any of the officers that I was under while a substitute in the two last mentioned terms of service I have no documentary evidence of my service as a substitute and I know of no person now living whose testimony I can procure, who can testify to the two last mentioned services.
The said William hereby relinquishes every Claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name, is not on the pension Rolls of the agency of any State.  His William L. Gifford mark
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid H. Gaylord, Judge of Probate
2 2

We Howard Tripp, a Clergyman residing in Dartmouth in the County of Bristol which town adjoins Westport, opposite and Abner B. Gifford residing in the same Westport, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with William Gifford who has submitted to the above declaration; that we believe him to be about seventy seven years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion. — And Howard Tripp further certifies that the said Mr Gifford usually attends his  public meetings —
Howard Tripp Abner B. Gifford
Given to us this day and year first above written
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department; that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Howard Tripp who has signed the foregoing certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Dartmouth and that Abner B. Gifford who has also signed the same is a resident in Westport and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss. S.
I Anselm Bassett, Register of the Court of Probate in and for said County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Gifford of Westport for a Pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office the day and year first above written.
Anselm Bassett

Free Whisman Pk
Nov 6
Mr Ewing
Alford Centre Oct 24
J. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.

Milford Centre Oct 26 th 1838
In Judged you have the Blank filled for the transfer of William Gifford's Pension executed according to the best information the justice and clerk have upon the subject old man Gifford does not positively recollect the name of the Capt. but says it was Carr or something like it his certificate for Pension was recorded in the Pension Office in Book E. Vol. 2 Page 28 by J. H. M c Blain Clerk if the Department can be satisfied with the correctness of the above together with the application for transfer I shall feel amply compensated for my trouble the old gentleman Gifford is nearly blind and entirely superannuated and is now living upon the charity of his children and others if it is not sufficient please fill a blank in due for omitting the name and send it that we may get such an one as is required Respectfully for your obedient servant
J. S. Edwards
N. Chipman Pict.
P.S. you will find a former application for transfer on file of Sept date N. Chipman

Merchants Bank, Pension Dept. Boston, 12 th Nov r 1838.
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 7 th inst. I have to inform you that William Gifford a pensioner under the act of 7 th June 1832. at $80. per annum has been paid up to 4 th March 1838.
I am, very resp t . Your obed t Serv t .
By Franklin Revere P. Agent.
J. L. Edwards Esq r . Com t of Pensions Washington D.C.

C1735- Sept 28. 1838.
Pension Office
No Ewan

To the Hon. J. N. Poinsett Esq.
Secretary of War
Washington City
D.C.
Milford Centre O.R. Sept 17 th

Right Hon
Milford Centre Sept 19 th 1858
J. K. Doinsett
Sec of War
Dear Sir William Gifford
a Revolutionary Pensioner from the State of Massachusetts who has removed to this State presented me with his certificate for his pension which was made payable at Boston Mass wishing me to so arrange it as to have it here after payable at Cincinnati Ohio he informed me he drew 4 th of March last at Boston since which time he has taken up his residence with his son in this state and for that reason he wishes the transfer made I enclose the papers I suppose necessary to the making the transfer if the form should be insufficient please send a form with directions how to proceed in order to obtain the transfer Respectfully Sir your Obedt Servt N. Chapman P. Allen Milford Centre Ohio

I Thomas Wilson of Liverton in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island aged Seventy four years testify and say that, I was and a soldier in the army of the Revolution that early in the year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy four I enlisted and marched to Boston and was in the service of that year in and about Boston was discharged and returned home from Boston in December of the same year or in January of the year Seventy Six that soon after my return from Boston and in the early part of the year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Six as near as I can recollect in the month of March or April - I enlisted again in the service of the United States for one year - I enlisted in the company commanded by John Carr, Lieutenant Ellick or Alexander Thomas Ensign Bleff , - and in Colonel Christopher Safford Regiment that I served during the term of one year agreeable to my enlistment, was stationed in the first part of my service, on Rhode Island, at Narragansett Cove a little North of Newport near some harbors and from them, went on the Island of Conanicut, from there we marched to Kings Bridge in the State of New York - from thence to the White Plains, was at the White Plains at the time of the great battle that took place there - after this battle we marched to Attlekill and crossed the river and from there to Prince Town, and from there back to Attlekill and was discharged - that I am acquainted with William Gifford of Newport in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, that I became particularly acquainted with him during the revolutionary war in the aforesaid term of my service - that he was with me during said term - and marched with me to the various places therein described that he was discharged at the same time that I was we returned home together most of the way.
Thomas Wilson
Witness William Gifford

State of Massachusetts County of Bristol S.S.
On this twenty ninth day of august in the year Seventeen eighteen hundred and thirty two, personally appeared the within named Thomas Wilson and made solemn oath that the within deposition by him subscribed is true in all its parts, and I do further certify that the said Thomas Wilson is a credible Witness, and that his statement is entitled to credit. before me Henry B. Clifford Just. of Peace

I William Cook of Fiverton in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island aged Seventy six, in November last - testify and say that I was a soldier in the army of the revolution that I enlisted in the Town of Fiverton in the State of Rhode Island in the early part of the year Seventeen hundred and eighty Seven, under Capt William Christopher Manchester, Lieutenant Philip Palmer, Ensign Benjamin Miles - and in Colonel Brinblead's Infantry Regiment - into the fifteen months service, that I remained in the service during the term of my enlistment - and some time in the year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy eight - when the term of service expired I was discharged - that in the early part of the year Seventy nine hundred and Seventy Seven when I entered the service and joined the company I found William Gifford of Westport in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts - in the service under Captain Manchester and other officers aforesaid in Colonel Brinblead's Regiment - that he remained & served in said company and Regiment during the time for which I enlisted - excepting a part of the time he was sick and did not perform service the duties of a soldier on account of sickness - after enlistment was first quartered at Howard Ferry - from there marched to Bristol in the State of Rhode Island, from there Capt Manchester's company was stationed on Pocumquash - and remained on Pocumquash until our term expired and was discharged - that the said William Gifford was with me at the Ferry, at Bristol and on Pocumquash and when I was discharged in Seventeen Hundred and Seventy eight the said William Gifford at the time of my discharge was sick and unable to do duty - I have no hesitation in saying that the said William Gifford served in the company aforesaid under Capt Manchester including his sickness. twelve months or more Witness Henry B. Gifford William Cook

State of Massachusetts County of Bristol — S.S.
On this twenty ninth day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace, the within named William Cook and made solemn oath that the deposition within by him subscribed is true in all its parts, and I do further certify that the within named William Cook is a credible person, and that his Statement is entitled to credit.
Attest Almon B. Gifford J. of Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Bristol ss.
I James Sprague Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Bristol do hereby Certify that Almon B. Gifford Esq. whose signa- mation is affixed to the foregoing & annexed Certificates is a Justice of the Peace in & for said County of Bristol and duly qualified to administer oaths.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said Court, this fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
J. Sprague

State of Ohio } Champaign County } on the 31 st day of August 1838 before me the subscriber a justice of the peace for the said county of Champaign in the state of Ohio personally appeared William Gifford who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly was a private in the army of the Revolution and in the service of the United States, that his name was placed on the Pension Roll of the State of Massachusetts, from whence he has lately removed that he now resides in the county of Champaign and state of Ohio where he intends to reside and wishes his pension to be there payable in future. The following are his reasons for removing from New Bedford Massachusetts his former place of residence to Champaign County Ohio, his present place of residence his children having nearly all removed to this county and settled in said county of Champaign Ohio that he has become superannuated and is unable to do any thing of account for himself and having lately lost his wife his only alternative was to remove to his children or depend upon strangers to wait upon him and administer to his necessities in his decline of life
Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year above mentioned Isa C Johnson J.P.
his William Gifford Mark
State of Ohio } Personally appeared before me Champaign County } a justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid and made oath that he has been acquainted with William Gifford for more than thirty years past and to the present time and that he knows him to be the identical person described in the above affidavit signed by him Sworn and subscribed before me this 31 st day of August 1838 Isa C Johnson J.P.
William Gifford

State of Ohio } County of Champaign } p } John C Pearson Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas at the County and State afore Said do hereby certify that from me on the 31st day of August 1835 Isaac C. Johnson is a Justice of the Peace in and for Said County duly commis- ioned and qualified. that his commission was dated on the seventeenth day of November 1837 and will expire on the seventeenth day of November 1840 and that his signature above written is genuine
Given under my hand and the Seal of the Said County this 17th day of September 1838-
John C Pearson Clerk
C1735.